Video & Transcript Research : 'Interstate 12'

Page 16 of 500
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:20:00.640> Um,<00:20:01.760> 12<00:20:02.080> years Kentucky is Butcher
  • Um, 12 years Kentucky is Butcher Holler.
  • Um, 12 years ago,<00:20:02.720> we<00:20:03.039> bought<00:20:03.200> the<00:20:
  • uh 200 meter Mondo have one of only 12 uh 200 meter Mondo surface<00:47:26.400> hydraulic<00:
  • And so we work with different organizations for kids to walk, run, or jog 12 miles in increments, and
Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from the prior meeting and then heard a presentation from Pike County/Pikeville tourism officials about improving signage for the Hatfield-McCoy historic sites. Bob Scott, Tony Tacket, and Jay Shepard said visitors increasingly come to the area but often cannot find the sites because cell service and GPS are unreliable in the mountains. They argued that clearer signage along routes 119, 319, and 1056 would help visitors navigate the historic loop, strengthen branding, and increase dwell time and local spending. The Pike County presenters emphasized the economic importance of tourism, citing growth in tourist spending from $72.93 million in 2017 to $103.2 million in 2023 and $114.6 million in 2024. They said tourism helps offset the decline of coal, supports local mom-and-pop businesses, and benefits from partnerships with nearby West Virginia sites such as Matewan and other Hatfield-McCoy-related locations. Members asked about cross-state promotion, lodging capacity, and the possibility of a dinner show in Kentucky; the presenters said lodging is up 33% but more is needed, a new Crown Plaza hotel is planned in Pikeville, and a dinner show would require local investment and community buy-in. Committee members from the region spoke in support of the tourism effort and the need to preserve and teach local history. The chair and others said signage would help visitors and noted that a business without signs is no business. The committee then moved on to a separate presentation from the Louisville Sports Commission, introduced by Senator Jason Howell, which began with an overview of the commission’s role in sports tourism and economic development in Louisville.